Adelaide has missed out on chance to compete for its third-straight Pre-Season Cup title after only managing a 0-0 draw against Perth in Mt Gambier.
After Melbourne had earlier defeated Newcastle to go top of the group, the Reds needed victory but after a first half full of chances, were unable to create anything to seriously challenge Perth in the second 45 minutes.
The draw means Adelaide finishes second in the group on five points, one behind Victory, who it beat in the opening round in Launceston. Perth finishes on two points level with Newcastle after failing to register a win.
Either side could have scored in a busy first half an hour. Adelaide’s best early chance fell to Cristiano, who headed wide of Frank Juric. Lucas Pantelis had two chances, a long-range shot which dipped just over the bar, before having an air-swing at a cross which had found him close to goal.
Perth’s main threat early was Eugene Dadi, who spoilt three clear chances. He met Hayden Doyle’s free kick with a poor header that Eugene Galekovic batted away, then attempted from distance and went over.
The third was the best of them, with Scott Bulloch intercepting in midfield and feeding the ball to the Ivorian, who couldn’t get the shot past the legs of the advancing keeper.
Cassio’s free kicks were causing headaches among the Glory defence and Travis Dodd and Robert Cornthwaite both headed wide from good chances created by the Brazilian in quick succession.
Then Cristiano prompted a diving save from Juric with a powerful shot, while Bulloch skied a good-looking chance late in a half where three players were booked – Cristiano, Doyle and Jonas Salley.
The second half took a while to warm up, with Jamie Coyne almost knocking the ball into his own net on 55 minutes, while Mark Lee was booked just before the hour.
As the result of the Melbourne-Newcastle match filtered through, it became apparent that the Reds would need a goal, but the chances had dried up. Bulloch and Adrian Pellegrino went into the book and the Glory went into their shells, making it hard for the home team to get the goal they needed.
Cassio went just wide from long range then hit a limp free kick which didn’t trouble Juric. Barbiero’s left-foot effort on 80 minutes went way over and late efforts from Cristiano and Dodd came to nothing, it was apparent it wasn’t going Adelaide’s way.
Adelaide United 0
Perth Glory 0
Crowd: About 3000 at Vansittart Park, Mt Gambier
